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"This help is priceless," said Kimberly Lough, the school's agriculture education teacher and FFA adviser.

Some will be filling 300 goodie bags for the Salvation Army's inaugurual Shield of Hope 5K Oct. 12.

"We wouldn't be able to do this without that help," said the Salvation Army's Christine Smith. "Otherwise, it might take us a week to schedule all the volunteers we would need."

Some will be painting an old wooden mounting ramp at Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy.

"It's going to be great to get this project out of the way," said Diana Staab, SMART volunteer coordinator. "This is a real gift."

Among the companies and organizations participating around Manatee are Fifth Third Bank, Florida Blue, Gateway Bank, Manatee Chamber of Commerce, Manatee Young Professionals, Mosaic and Publix to name a few.

"The whole concept is to promote a sense of improving lives of others in our area for the greater good of the community," said Doreen Ravagnani, United Way development coordinator. "When these agencies get added help doing things they don't have the budget to do, it improves the quality of the lives of their clients. It also heightens awareness of the needs around us.

"In this economy not everybody can afford to make donations, but everybody can do something to help."